Enhanced communication platform and related communication method using the platform

Abstract

Pre-authorized communication services and/or transactions are provided via a plurality of networks in response to a request received from a user to provide at least one of a communication service, a transaction and user account information via a plurality of networks of different types. Prior to processing the request, there is verification of the user's authorization to receive the at least one of the communication service, the transaction, and the user account information, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient amount currently available for payment of the at least one of the communication service and the transaction. After verification, an authorized account associated with the user is charged in real time as the at least one of the communication service and the transaction is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . At least one computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions performed by at least one computer to perform a method of providing from a platform pre-authorized communication services and transactions using a plurality of external networks of different types and which are external to the platform, the method comprising:
 accepting and processing a request from a user to provide at least one of a communication service, a transaction or user account information via one of the plurality of external networks;   verifying that the user is authorized to receive the at least one of the communication service, the transaction, or the user account information, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient amount currently available for payment of the at least one of the communication service or the transaction; and   charging, in a real-time transaction, an authorized account associated with the user as the platform controls an element of a corresponding one of the plurality of external networks to provide at least one of the communication service or the transaction as provided by any one of a plurality of different service and transaction providers.   
     
     
         2 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises processing real-time settlement data for the at least one of the communication service or the commercial transaction. 
     
     
         3 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the verifying further comprises authenticating the user using at least one of a security code, a password, user intervention, a PIN number, automatic call back or interactive voice response. 
     
     
         4 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises verifying that the user is within a specified area, country or that the at least one of the communication service or the transaction requested is within a user feature restriction level. 
     
     
         5 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the charging includes at least one of decreasing an account balance of a pre-authorized account or increasing a balance of a charge account. 
     
     
         6 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises recording information about the at least one communication service or the transaction, including at least one of location of the authorized user, the amount charged, the date, the time or the type of transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of external networks of different types controllable by the platform include a wireless communication network, a publicly switched telephone network, a landline communication network, a global or wide area computer network, the internet, a TCP/IP LAN, a SS-7 signaling network, an IP signaling network and a router network. 
     
     
         8 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises providing services from the platform on the plurality of external networks selectable between user account management functions, payment administration functions, rate plan functions, and security functions. 
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 disconnecting the user from at least one of the plurality of external networks of different types after the at least one of the communication service or the transaction is provided; and   re-establishing a connection with the disconnected user and advising the disconnected user of a balance remaining in the account associated with the disconnected user.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining while providing the one of the communication service and the transaction that the user no longer has a sufficient amount in the account associated with the user; and   if it is determined that there is no longer the sufficient amount, accepting an account number across the at least one of the plurality of external networks of different types and adding value to the account associated with the user from the accepted account number.   
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions performed by at least one computer to provide a method of providing pre-authorized communication services and transactions using a plurality of external networks of different types and which is external to a platform, the method comprising:
 accepting a request from a user via a corresponding one of the plurality of external networks, the request requesting at least one of a communication service or a transaction;   verifying that the user is authorized to receive the at least one of the communication service or the transaction, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient value available for payment; and   charging in real time at the platform outside of the external networks, using rating engines that dynamically calculate charges, an account associated with the user while the platform controls an element of a corresponding one of the external networks from the platform to provide by any one of a plurality of different service and transaction providers the at least one of the communication service or the transaction and authorizing the transaction if the accepting and verifying is successful.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the verifying further comprises authenticating the user using at least one of a security code, a password, user intervention, a PIN number, automatic call back or interactive voice response. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises verifying that the user is within a specified area, country or that the at least one of the communication service or the transaction requested is within a user feature restriction level. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the charging includes at least one of decreasing an account balance of a pre-authorized account or increasing a balance of a charge account. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises recording information about the at least one communication service or the transaction, including at least one of location of the authorized user, the amount charged, the date, the time or the type of transaction. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of external networks of different types controllable by the platform include a wireless communication network, a publicly switched telephone network, a landline communication network, a global or wide area computer network, the internet, a TCP/IP LAN, a SS-7 signaling network, an IP signaling network and a router network. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises providing services of at least one of user account management functions, payment administration functions, rate plan functions, or security functions. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises processing real-time settlement data for the at least one of the communication service or commercial transaction. 
     
     
         19 . A user communication device communicating with a platform outside of a plurality of external networks of different types, comprising:
 an input unit that receives a request from a user identifying at least one of a communication service, a transaction or user account information; and   a transmitter that transmits the request to the platform via one of the external networks for verification that the user is authorized to receive the identified at least one of the communication service, the transaction or the user account information, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient amount currently available for payment of the identified at least one of the communication service or the transaction, and for control of an element of one of the external networks from the platform such that at least one of a plurality of different service and transaction providers at least one of authorizes the identified transaction or provides at least one of the identified communication service or the identified user account information, while the authorized account associated with the user is charged in real time in response to verification of the request.   
     
     
         20 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter further reads an access code and a link between the account and the request, and transmits the read access code and the link to the platform to perform verification. 
     
     
         21 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter further reads information from a chip needed by the platform to perform verification, and transmits the read information to the platform. 
     
     
         22 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , further comprising a receiver that receives the at least one of a communication service or the transaction to be provided using the user communication device from the any one of a plurality of different service and transaction providers. 
     
     
         23 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the user communication device comprises a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         24 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the user communication device comprises a computer. 
     
     
         25 . The user communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the user communication device comprises a computer. 
     
     
         26 . A method of crediting a pre-authorized account of a user, comprising:
 sending a notification to the user at a transceiver that the pre-authorized account needs additional credit;   receiving a response message from the user sent from the transceiver and including a number associated with the user;   sending a request from a first platform to a second platform to obtain the additional credit from another account associated with the user and maintained by the second platform; and   receiving the additional credit obtained from a transaction debiting the other account and adding the additional credit to the pre-authorized account maintained by another platform different than the second platform to supply funds used to pay for at least one communication service or transaction, provided or consummated respectively via at least one of a plurality of networks of different types which are connected to the first and second platforms.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 ,
 further comprising authenticating at the first platform that the user is associated with the pre-authorized account, and   wherein said sending of the request from the first platform to the second platform occurs if it is authenticated that the user is associated with the pre-authorized account.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to claim  46 ,
 further comprising establishing at the first platform an identification number associated with the user, and   wherein said authenticating of the user is based on the identification number.